Waiting for Godot

Samuel Beckett

Summary

Act I: Introduction & Pozzo and Lucky's Entrance

Vladimir -
One of the two main characters of the play. Estragon calls him Didi, and the boy addresses him as Mr. Albert. He seems to be the more responsible and mature of the two main characters.

Estragon -
The second of the two main characters. Vladimir calls him Gogo. He seems weak and helpless, always looking for Vladimir's protection. He also has a poor memory, as Vladimir has to remind him in the second act of the events that happened the previous night.

Pozzo -
He passes by the spot where Vladimir and Estragon are waiting and provides a diversion. In the second act, he is blind and does not remember meeting Vladimir and Estragon the night before.

Lucky -
Pozzo's slave, who carries Pozzo's bags and stool. In Act I, he entertains by dancing and thinking. However, in Act II, he is dumb.

Boy -
He appears at the end of each act to inform Vladimir that Godot will not be coming that night. In the second act, he insists that he was not there the previous night.

Godot -
The man for whom Vladimir and Estragon wait unendingly. Godot never appears in the play. His name and character are often thought to refer to God.

Dear author of this analysis. Becket does not write in 'Waiting for Godot' that the four gospels present different accounts of the two thieves. What he writes, and what really is the case, is that only one of the four gospels present this account. And hence, the conclusion that you have made regarding the trustworthiness of the Bible is irrelevant and in fact deceiving.

It is disappointing to find a wholly unsupported claim such as the one made by the author of this note regarding the conversation between Vladimir and Estragon early in Act I about execution of two criminals who were crucified on either side of Jesus. Vladimir explains that only one writer includes a conversation between Jesus and the two men, the apparent repentance of one of the men, and Jesus’ promise the man would be with Jesus in paradise that very day.

Luke mentions the story, the other three writers mention the men but not t... Read more→